-'OS 







/^\ 






m 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



S^iip._-L-'^ixiit5rig|il|u> 

Shelf ,_5S-- 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



a 



PRESS OF 
BARTLETT & CO., 
NEW VORK. 



VeRse?" 





PFG 18 132. 



ac 



\% 



-\\ 






n 



COPYRIGHTED 1891 
BY 

Edward Perkins Selden. 






C^opte^ts- 



PAGE 

An Easter Thought, - - - - 12 

A Word of Cheer, . . - - 14 
By Telegraph, - - - - - 27, 28 

Falling Apple Blossoms, - - - 16 

"Gyp," „..--- 31 

In Confidence, . _ . . 25 

Living and Loving, - - - . 8 

My Heart and I, - - - - 22 

My Mother, ----- 6 

My Sister, . . . . - 37 

My Sweetheart, ----- 38 

Several Good Ones Left, . - . 29 

Short and Sweet, ----- 28 

The Bowling Alley, - - _ - 17 

The Call, .----. 10 

The Fisher's Daughter, - - - 18 

The Golden Wedding, - . - - - 36 

The Pearls, . . _ _ - 15 

The Same Old Crows, - - - - 33 

The Warning, - - - - - 20 

You, ------- 21 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/versesOOseld 



Tbi5 little VoIun7e of 

!5 IcVip^Iy Pedicated to 
M.y Motbep. 



My Motbe: 



N her heart and mind there is 



The constant thought of duty, 

Renewed, transformed, by Grace. 

The sunshine of His beauty 
Reflected in her face. 

His work, her Hfe-long mission, 

His will, her will entire; 
His praise, her great ambition. 

His love, her heart's desire. 

The melodies of heaven, 

Re-echoed in her songs 
Of praises to Him given. 

To whom all praise belongs. 



Her own supremest pleasure, 

Her one intense delight ; 
Her longing, without measure, 

Her prayer by day and night ; 

The thought of His returning, 
To crown her work begun ; 

And from His own lips learning. 
The welcome words, " Well done. 



LiVip6 ar)cl L^Vi 



I LOVE to live, for life is well worth living, 
1 So much there is to search for and to find. 
But grander far, the blessed work of giving 
To those who need our gifts of heart and 
mind. 

I love to live, for life is full of treasure, 
And if our eyes are open to discern, 

God's gifts of love to us beyond all measure, 
We cannot fail to love Him in return. 



I love to live, the years are full of blessing, 
And every day brings some new mercy 
bright. 

I want to live and work, His name confessing, 
Who brought me out of darkness into light. 

I live to love, for love is life's ideal, 

The very crown of life, its aim and goal: 

And as the years roll on I find more real, 
His love, who is the Lover of my soul. 



T 



Tbe Cal 



HERE'S another call for Soldiers, 
In the army of the King ; 
Have you volunteered for service? 

Are there others you can bring? 
There is need of men and money, 

In the war against the wrong; 
But the right will surely triumph, 

Though the conflict may be long. 



CHORUS. 



Are you doing all your duty? 
Are you helping all you can? 
Are you wearing all the armor? 
Are you fighting like a man? 



10 



If we try to win life's battles 

In our own strength, we will fall; 
But God calls us to His service, 

Let us then obey the call. 
Let us give Him our allegiance. 

And to Him all praise accord, 
For '' 'Tis not by might nor power. 

But My Spirit," saith the Lord. 

CHORUS. 

'Tis '' The Lord of Hosts " who leads us, 

And His mighty arm will save 
All who follow Him to battle. 

And are watchful, strong, and brave. 
Then ''Conquering and to Conquer," 

We will boldly march along ; 
And '' Victory to Victory " 

Will be our triumphant song. 

CHORUS. 



11 



AP ^^S+sJ^ fbou^bt. 



NOT A HISTORY. 




ITH broken heart, and bruised and 
bleeding feet, 
I turned once more toward the Light, and 
there 
Upon my face I fell — a wreck complete — 
I tried to pray, but could not frame a prayer. 

I hardly dared to hope He'd help me then. 
For I had thrown His easy yoke aside; 

And 'though He'd called again, and yet again, 
I would not heed His call — His will defied. 

His grace I scorned, and held to ridicule 
His precious promises of help and rest ; 

And like a brain-befogged and prating fool, 
His very words of love I turned to jest. 



12 



In dust and ashes, there I lay as dead, 

While tears of deep contrition filled my eyes ; 

Then Jesus came, and whispering to me, said, 
''A broken contrite heart I'll not despise." 

I knew His voice the instant that He spoke, 
And as He gently brushed my tears away 

And bade me rise and follow, I awoke, 

To find the day had come I Glad Easter 
Day ! 



13 



/\ V/oFc! ot Qbeep. 



eOME, dry your eyes, 
'Tis not a ceaseless rain that's falling, 
And the skies 
Above the clouds are bright as ever, 

And time flies. 

To-morrow's sun, 
His glorious course from East to West, 

Will surely run ; 
And shed his rays of light and warmth 

On every one. 

Be of good cheer. 

The clouds, though heavy overhead, 

Will disappear ; 

And leave the world — this once bright world — 

More bright and clear. 



14 



Jbe Pe5P!s. 



Two " Pearls " on the Shore of Time were 
found. 
More precious far than the brightest gem 

That is hidden in the sea or ground, 
Or shines in a monarch's diadem. 

More precious than all silver and gold 

That the Nation's guarded vaults contain, 

Or the Sierra Nevada hold, 

That brilliant link in the Rocky Chain. 

P'or within each of these precious ''Pearls" 
A soul reflects the Light of Heaven : 

Your two little darling baby girls, 
To you for love's protection given. 

—Written for Mrs. E. F. BREWSTER, Rochester, N. Y. 



15 



rallip^ APP'e ^10550075. 



T ITTLE wings of promise, 

J ^ Floating in the air, 

Prophesying apples. 

That the trees will bear. 

Pretty little dew cups, 
All in sets of five. 

Quaintest little dishes 
Nature can contrive. 

White as Alabaster, 

With a blush of pink, 
P'lying all around us. 

Tempting us to drink. 

Silent little sailors, 
Shining in the sun ; 

Downward they are drifting, 
All their life-work done. 



16 



T^e ^owii^g A^i^y- 



A 



S do the whirling spheres, 

Which bowl through boundless space, 
Roll down the path of years, 

With rhythmic speed and grace : 

So down this alley through, 

To yonder group of pins; 
Not swift alone, but true, — 

Must roll the ball that wins. 

If down the path of life, 

We gaily bowl along. 
Combating pain and strife, 

With cheerful work and sone : 

If, just and kind, alike, 

And true and right our aim, 

We'll make a '' ten-pin " strike 
And surely win the crame. 



17 



Jbe r^S^^^'S Pe^ugbtep. 



r 



AR out upon the pebbled beach, 
Almost within the high tide's reach, 

The Fisher's Daughter stands : 
With dexterous hand, the net she mends, 
But many glances sea-ward sends. 

And the horizon scans. 

Her flowing locks of dark brown hair, 
More beautiful, for want of care, 

Below her waist descend ; 
Or, with the ocean's laughing breeze. 
Which tries in sport each curl to seize. 

With silent force contend. 



A gleam of jo\', we may discern, 
If closer to her face we turn. 

And watch her sparkHng eyes ; 
For, far beyond our shortened sight, 
She sees a sail's reflected light, 

And soon with rapture cries. 

See, from the mast, that pennon float. 
She knows the signal and the boat, 

Her lover's homeward bound. 
And now, the happiest maiden she. 
Of all who live beside the sea, 

The whole wide world around. 



19 



Jbe V/e.Fpip; 



_ ER eyes are orbs of purest jet, 
In skies of faintest azure set ; 
So bright ! no evening star more bright 
Sends greeting sweet to mortal sight. 
So black ! no tempest cloud more black 
Hides sun, or moon, and planet's track. 
And deep ! ten thousand fathoms deep^ 
The seas no surer secrets keep 
Than underneath those lashes lie 
In depths of charming mystery. 
But lo ! from out those circlet walls 
Of midnight, vivid lightning falls, 
And for our warning traces there 
This one portentous word, "Beware!" 



20 



You. 

OME how- 
Some time — 

Some way — 

Some where, 

I know ! 

That I 

Have met — 

A pair — 

Of eyes — 

So blue — 

So bright — 

So true — 

That I— 

Why yes! 

Of course — 

It's You. 



21 



My H^s.^"^ s^pd 



A STUDY. 




Y Heart and I a consultation held 
For many anxious days, nor could agree, 
Though cruel darts by Cupid's bow impelled 
Had wounded us severely, Heart and me. 

I loved a certain lady, all too well, 

Perhaps — no matter now. Heart loved one 
too. 
You ask her name ? Excuse me, I'll not tell; 
Nor Heart's sweetheart, for that would 
never do. 

And they were not the same, as you will see. 

My girl was tall and handsome, with black 
eyes, 
And oh ! so bright and quick at repartee, 

And just as good and true as she was wise. 



22 



I thouo-ht of her a hundred times a dav 

If I did once, and that goes without saying; 

I thought of her when I kneeled down to pra)', 
And almost always spoke her name when 
praying. 

My Heart's true-love was lovely as a rose ; 

Not tall, but very pretty and petite ; 
Indeed, her face, when it was in repose, 

Was just about the sweetest of the sweet. 



She had a pleasing voice, too, high soprano, 
\\' ell trained by masters of the vocal art ; 

And when she sang for us at the piano, 

I did not wonder that she charmed my Heart 



23 



I could not but admire the winsome creature, 
Her pretty manners and bewitching smile; 

But for some reason — hope this may not reach 
her — 
I loved the other better all the while. 

How deeply grieved were we, then, to discover 
That while we let the precious moments fly. 

Each lady found a new friend and a lover. 
And so we lost them both, my Heart and I. 



Harfier's Weekly, December 8, i883. 



24 



[r? Qoi/ticier/C^ 




ERE you never in love? 
Did you never see, 
In the faces of many you chanced to meet 
On the railway trains, or the crowded street. 
One face which you trusted would some day be 
Yours truly, yours forever? 

Were you never in love? 

Did you never hear, 
In the voices of many with whom you spoke: 
In the dreams which lingrered when vou awoke. 
One voice which you counted, of all, most 
dear, 

Yours trulv. vours forever? 



25 



Were you never in love? 

Did you never find. 
That day after day, when the day was spent. 
An exquisite joy and a sweet content 
Pervaded your heart, as it brought to mind 

Yours truly, yours forever? 

Were you never in love? 

Did you never fear, 
That after the best had been said and done. 
Your friend might refuse, at last, to be won, 
And the hopes you cherished would disappear; 

Yours one time, not forever? 



26 



Were you ever in love? 

Ever lose your heart? 
Or, pray, can it be that you cannot tell? 
Then ponder the questions I've asked you well : 
You will know when Cupid has thrown his dart, 

Know truly, doubt it never! 



^y Jele^papb. 



AS he enters the marriage state, 
I would my friend congratulate. 
And wish him and his lovely wife 
A long and happy wedded life. 

—To Mr. Hexry a. Hesse, Allegheny City. 



27 



^y Jelegps^pb. 



ERMIT me, from our Northern State, 
To heartily congratulate 
The two good friends who are made one, 
This merry day at Marion. 

Sweet may the bells, their cadence chime. 
At this most happy wedding time ; 
And may their harmonies extend 
In full crescendo to the end. 

—To Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Whilde?^, of South Carolina 



ONSIDER this, my lady mine. 
A telegraphic Valentine. 



28 



Several Good Qpes \_en. 



THE man who has but half an eye 
Can see with ease, and not half try, 
That if the lady he admires, 
And for whose favor he aspires, 
Receive ^^•ith scorn his least advance. 
And render hopeless every chance 
Of his success — he'd better wait. 
For future peace will compensate. 

Nine cases out of ten, no doubt, 
He will in due time find this out, 
That 'tis a rule with our young men 
That every one finds, now and then, 
Some girl, who, in his inmost soul 
He'd like to marr\' and control : 



29 



And should he fail at first to find 

The true ideal of his mind, 

Why let him not of hope despair, 

Nor, wild with grief, uproot his hair. 

As if of reason quite bereft, — 

For there are ^'Several Good Ones left.'' 



30 




"Gyp." 



ITHIN the deepest fountain of the heart 
May he, unknown to us for months or 
years, 
While hfe has only pleasures to impart — 
A copious store of hot and bitter tears; 
For sorrow must to every mortal come, — 
It is the rule of life, though not the sum. 

There is within the heart abundant room. 
For love of those dumb creatures whom we 
call 

Our pets, who in their artlessness assume 
Our deepest, best affections to enthrall. 

'Tis by their very faith in us, we learn 

In some degree their true love to return. 



31 



We owned a pet the other day — poor Gyp ! 

A noble, loving dog — a friend withal — 
Alas ! he died — we tell with quivering lip — 

He died because his collar was too small. 
Oh ! cruel fate ! in innocent content, 
To clasp about his neck. Death's instrument. 



" Gyp," a little dog belonging to a friend of mine 
in Mississippi, departed this life under peculiar 
circumstances. 



32 



Jbe 5^^^ 0^^ Cfoul)S. 



ONCE on a time — so we have heard 
The story — which is quite absurd — 
There were three crows, as black as jet, 
Each one a feathered silhouette, 
Whose form against the evening sky 
Was plainly seen by passers-by, 
As they — the crows — sat on a tree. 
And c-a-w-d and c-a-w-d — quite merrily. 
But as they sat and pondered o'er 
The programme of the day before, 
And on their present prospects dwelt — 
The pangs of hunger keen were felt. 
Then over in the West — they saw 
The sun decline — and murmured " c-a-w." 



33 



About this time, the stoty goes, 

One of these old historic crows 

Stood up, and in a shaky voice, 
Remarked, '^ My friends, what is your 

choice 
Of meats, upon our bill-of-fare : 
Will you take beef, or mutton rare?" 

And at the thought, the old crow's jaw 

Dropped down — the others answered, ^^Caw." 

*' I rather think," said Number Two, 
" That there is even now in view, 
In yonder field, an ancient beast 
Who'll make a most delicious feast." 
Said Number Three, Avith visage grim, 
"■ I move we take a look at him." 
Then all stood up on one small claw — 
And sang in chorus, ^'Caw! C-a-w ! Caw!" 



34 



The horse referred to here, we're told, 
'Tho at the close of life — quite old — 

Had dragged the plow, that turned the 
soil, 

In which the farmer, bent with toil. 

Had planted corn — designed as seed 

From which would grow the horse's feed. 

But oh ! the irony of fate ! — 
These self-same crows scratched up and ate 
The farmer's corn, so soon each night 
As he had gotten out of sight : 
And when the horse had died — all through 
With his hard life — tJiey ate Jiiin too. 



35 



f^op the Qoldep V/eddir); 



A LITTLE token of my great respect, 
Herewith please find ; 
Perhaps the Colonel may at first object, 
But never mind. 

They're made of solid gold, all through 
and through. 

From point to head. 

As well the little chain that binds the two, 

The goldsmith said. 

Two noble lives, with noble deeds full 
round ; 

Are yet not old. 

By fifty happy year-links they are bound, 

All good as gold. 

—For Mrs. Col. David S. Clark. 



36 




My Sis"^^^- 

HO is she, whose cheery way, 
Turns November into May ? 

When she left us for one day 

I missed her. 

Who is she w^hom knowing well 
I loved dearly — don't you tell — 
When upon her neck I fell, 
And kissed her ? 

Who is worth her weight in gold ? 
Worth the price and many fold 
More than rubies, bought and sold ? 
My Sister. 

Who is thoughtful, kind and good ? 
Loved best wdien best understood ? 
Queen of lovely sisterhood — 
My Sister. 



37 



My Sl^^^^'^^^s.^'^- 



H 



A! Ha! I have a sweetheart, 
Indeed 'tis surely so, 



As kind and true a sweetheart 
As you can ever know. 

I'm thinking of my sweetheart 
Each hour of every day, 

While at home, or wandering 
A thousand miles away. 

My mother is my sweetheart 
I'd have you understand. 

The truest, dearest sweetheart 
There is in all the land. 



38 



LIBRARY OF CONGRtbb 

015 863 706 6 0'\ 



